The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-02-23
SOME PLAIN TALK.
Why The Farmer is not Represented as
He Should Be.
HARNETT COUNTY, N. c., J
February21 1887. {

HARNETT COUNTY, N. w.,
February21, 1887.
EDITOR PROGRESSIVE FARMER -
We often hear the expression that
"this is an age Of progress" Every
body admits the truth Of the aphor-
ism; but if the question was asked,
and, especially of our farmers, what
great power is it, by the exercise Of
which this progress is produced, the
answer would not be 50 selfevident
On reflection, however, every in
telligent farmer who has given it a
thought, would answer without any
hesitation, that this power is inher-
ent in organization-that it is the
power of associated efforts-that it
is the great power of cooperation
among men.
Whenever great results have been
Observation-Disclosures great difficult
ties have been removed and great
obstacles surmounted, mankind,
everywhere in this enlightened age
resort to this wonderful power Of
cooperation. So universal is the
utilization of this force in modern
times that it might be said, it marks
the age in which we live. We OBJ
serve it in every department of
human effort-we see 1t operating
in the moral world and the material
world-we see it in the developments
made in the arts and sciences-we see
it in politics every day-we see it
in every trade, in every occupation
and in every profession of man with
the solitary exception Of the profess
sion of farming.
Is this not fact? Is it not as
true as it is lamentable? Has it
not been as ruinous to the farmers
of North Carolina as it has been
disastrous to the State itself? Why
is it SO? Is it because of our igno-
rance? Is it because the Judgment
of our farmers is so obtuse that we
can't comprehend the utility of this
power? No. 1t can't be owing to
our ignorance.
Men of observation and men Of
wisdom have long since discovered
and 50 declared it that wherever
you find a successful farmer, you Will
see man possessed Of every single
qualification necessary and essential
to guarantee him success in any other
occupation. It cannot be denied
that we have some successful farm
ers in North Carolina. Hence, it
can't be owing to ignorance. Then
why is it that every class of men
resort to the use Of this power in
cooperation but the farming class =?
[ think it is about this: It is the
slavish submission of the farming
class to the arrogant dictation of men
in the professions. If am correct the
question arises. why the submission ?
Can it be possible that we are an
AFFECT class of numsculls? Apparent
ly, I must confess that Interrogation
seems to be a logical conclusion, but
an explanation Of an old custom
"hoary with age" so old that the
memory of man runneth not to the
contrary, will so modify the propo-
sition that the farmers will be
exonerated and the custom only will
be condemned.
Owing to the peculiar circumstan-
ces surrounding the farming pro-
fession, their insolation and neces-
sary home life, heretofore when it
became necessary to consult the
voice of the people for legislative
purposes or otherwise, the farmers
delegated their right of representa-
ton to the men of other professions,
andthese false representatives hav-
ing a keen eye to their professional
andiindividual advantages, benefited
themselves and misrepresented the
farmers.
To prove this assertion, take the
Agricultural Department for an
illustration: Ten years ago this
Department was established for the
express benefit of the farmers. 1t
was designed to be farmers insti-
tuition. The farmers pay for it's
support, and remember that nobody
else is taxed for this purpose but
farmers. It is presumed that every
one knows how this fund is raised.